Cobie Smulders' first sitcom sinceHow I Met Your Motherhas received a major setback. Since her debut in the early 2000s, with guest turns on shows likeSmallvilleandTru Calling, Smulders has taken on a variety of roles. She’s playedMaria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, acting as a reliable presence across different movies and series.
She’s likewise had crucial supporting parts on anthologies such asAmerican Crime Storyand teen dramas likeHigh School. Her most enduring role, though, remains asHow I Met Your Mother’s Robin Scherbatsky. More than a decade after the popular sitcom ended, Smulders was set to return to sitcoms with the potential seriesFriends & Family. According to a new report, that is now unlikely.
Deadlinereports thatFriends & Family, which stars Smulders, isno longer in the running to get picked up at ABC. The pilot would have marked Smulders' first main role in a comedy since the end ofHow I Met Your Motherin 2014. It would have also marked her return to ABC after the crime dramedyStumptownhad its renewal reversed in 2020.
What Friends & Family Would Have Been About
The Pilot Is Described As A Heartwarming Tale
Friends & Familyhails from Morgan Murphy, describing itself as a heartwarming tale that “explores the intricate dynamics of friendships and family bonds.” In particular, according toTales From The Collection’s production update, the pilot would have been set against the backdrop of modern relationships and what it means to support each other
It would have been familiar ground for Smulders, given her time onHIMYM. But even with the setback in her return to network television, the actress still has a number of varied projects lined up in the coming months. Two of those are in high-profile streaming series.
What’s Next For Cobie Smulders?
She’s Reuniting With A HIMYM Co-Star
Smulders will next appear inThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 4. She’ll reportedly play Allison, a character that’s important to the lead character Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and could return for season 5. She will also once again appear inShrinking,reuniting with herHow I Met Your Motherco-star Jason Segel. Smulders plays Sofi in the Apple TV+ dramedy, a potential love interest for Jimmy (Segel).
On the movie side, Smulders will star in the psychological thrillerSharp Cornersopposite Ben Foster. She’ll also lead the dramedyJill Takes A Breakalongside Thomas Sadoski. Audiences will still see a lot of the fan-favorite performer, which is a relief. However, the gap betweenHow I Met Your Motherand Smulders' next network TV sitcom will only get longer.
